Written by

Kristi Funderburk
| @kfunder

Days after superstorm Sandy turned parts of this summer hotspot into a splintered ghost town, the order went out: clear the streets of every vehicle.

Residents were outraged soon after to find that not only had cars been towed from private property, but they would have to pay the tow operator up to $2,500 in fees to retrieve just one vehicle. The sole company that had the borough's contract said it was following orders issued by the town's emergency management coordinator, James Samarelli.

An Asbury Park Press investigation has found that Samarelli was not a stranger to the towing company, APK ...